Book 4 Air
Chapter 49 Passionate
Part 2
The view of Kyoshi Island came into sight as the scene of local villagers and a few Kyoshi warriors poured buckets full of water dimming the raging fire of their leader's home.
Two figures stood on a porch as they both looked into each others eyes. Sokka leaned over and embraced Suki as he sighed.
The evening was an uneventful one. Suki managed to talk Aang out of taking Azula's bending away. Tied up and kept guarded in a small house near the end of the village, Azula remained silent the whole night as Mai and Ty Lee prayed well for their childhood friend. The two young women were seated around a table in a small kitchen as they discussed to each other quietly.
"I hope you can forgive me, Ty Lee…" Mai said in a regretful tone as she lowered her head.
The new member of the Kyoshi warriors sighed. She knew Mai's ties with Azula were a difficult one to understand. The skilled girl couldn't help but choose the wrong path, in the end being her one weakness, her love for the crowned prince.
Yet if she was in Mai's situation, Ty Lee wondered if she would have done the same thing…?
No, it wasn't in her heart to do so…The once hyper circus performer felt the gloomy effects of Mai's aura. Hovering over her like a small dark rain cloud. It was beginning to depress her.
"Well, it's too bad the pirates got away, uh?" Ty Lee said with a weak smile trying to lighten the mood.
"Those horrible men, worthless dogs are what they are." Mai said darkly as Ty Lee blinked. Never had she heard Mai speak so coldly about someone or rather a group of people. She wondered, what happened to her friend while she was forced to work with Azula? What did she have to go through?
"Mai, are you alright? They didn't hurt you, did they?" Ty Lee asked innocently and honestly as she watched Mai's expression dim.
Those men, who gawk at her like she was some piece of meat, calling out to her like wolf foxes would holler at their mates. It sickened her.
One younger greasy pirate even tried to make his moves on the noblewoman. Snaking his long arm over her shoulder and whispering disgusting filth about what he would do to her in her ear.
She warned the man with a death threat to distance himself from her, or face the wrath of her knifes in his groin.
Most of the men kept themselves far from her after that, knowing full well the capabilities, of what the young woman processed neatly under her sleeves.
"It doesn't matter now…All we have to worry about is how to deal with Azula…" Mai said as she drifted her eyes to the side.
"Yea…" Ty Lee said softly as she sighed inaudibly. Placing her elbows on the table and resting her head on her palms, Ty Lee closed her eyes trying to think positive thoughts.
'At least, Azula will be in our hands for now…We can help her, get through this.' Ty Lee thought.
A boy with a blue arrow above his forehead woke up, opening his gray eyes to see a wooden ceiling. Sitting up, Aang rubbed the back of his neck. His body hurt and was sore all over. He felt like he got hit by a saber-tooth moose lion, twice.
Aang swung his legs to the edge of the bed and stood up. His legs felt wobbly as his footing weaken while trying to take a step forward. Just then a woman came into his view from the corner of his eye. "Aang! You shouldn't be moving yet…" a kind voice said with concern as the young woman walked to his side. Aang plopped back down on the bed with a sigh as he lifted his head to see the person next to him. It was Suki in light clothing without her usual warrior make-up and clad. Aang turned his head away, ashamed that she was the one who told him to stop, from making a terrible decision. Something he wished he was stronger in doing for himself. To make the right choice without help, that was his weakness.
"Are you alright? Are you in pain? I can get you some more medicine if you'd like." Suki said as Aang narrowed his eyes.
"Why did you do it? Why did you tell me to stop from taking her bending?" Aang said in a serious yet weak tone.
Suki smiled softly, "Because it wasn't your time to do so. Besides, I have heard much while in the Fire Nation. If a bender, such as a fire bender lost their bending. It would be like losing their very soul, that inner fire that fuels their actions and their hearts." Suki said passionately.
"But what about Ozai's heart? He was pure evil…" Aang said as he hugged his knees on the edge of the bed.
"We may never know what Ozai's true objective was. Maybe he was hurting, just like Azula." Suki said as she lifted her head in wonder.
"Hurting? He was the one hurting people!" Aang said loudly as he looked at Suki.
Suki narrowed her eyes then spoke, "Think about Aang…Sozin was the first to start the war, and then his son continued the mayhem and carried the responsibility. Then after that brainwashed his own two sons, Ozai and Iroh to continue the terrible tradition." Suki said as she recalled Iroh's conversation she had with him before she left the Fire Nation.
"Iroh was the one who was able to pull away from the family tradition and save himself. The next person to do the same was Zuko…They are capable to find a balance in all of this. If they are given the right direction, the right path to do so…" Suki said as she turned and looked at the airbender.
Aang thought for a moment, honestly Suki's words made sense. Expect, both relatives had terrible results to their early transformations. Iroh lost his son in the war, and Zuko was scarred by his father along with banishment from his people. Yet in the end, they made it through. Iroh has his tea shop and respect from his people, and Zuko was the Fire Lord.
Could Azula have the same outcome? Could she heal from this hundred year war and fine balance in herself?
"I see what you mean, Suki. But will it be enough? Could we really help Azula?" Aang asked as he stared at the warrior girl.
Suki smiled, "With you here and the leader's wisdom, I am sure we can help her the best way we can." Suki said with reassurance.
'At least he was able to sense Azula's pain…If he hadn't; Aang would have taken her bending away and she would have died…Aang knows what's right and wrong, he just doesn't know the line between them.' Suki thought to herself as she stood up and turned.
"Alright, I'll go get you some tea, just rest for a while." Suki said as she left the room.
'Hopefully, we'll be able to save her…' Suki thought as she walked down the hall.
The view of a mantle and fire place was seen as the flame flickered from a small breeze as two glass doors opened to the cold air outside. Katara walked out onto the balcony of Zuko's chamber. It was late at night and she couldn't sleep. Looking up at the sky lit sky and nearly full moon, Katara felt the ghostly blue light pour down on her. The moon's energy flood over her like the push and pull motions of the ocean. It relaxed her slight anxious feeling as she sighed. "Katara?" a smooth voice called out as she smiled and turned.
"Hi…" Katara said softly as she pulled back strains of her hair as it flowed in the breeze.
"You couldn't sleep?" Zuko asked already knowing the answer.
Katara nodded her head as she turned to the view of the ahead. Katara admired the scene in front of her. Rather that the view of the noble homes or city below, Zuko's balcony showed the outlook of the forest and natural settings of the Fire Nation. It was pleasant to see and smell the woods beneath her.
Katara smiled warmly as she felt two strong hands wrap around her like a warm blanket. Katara lightly moaned in his embrace as he rested his chin on her shoulder. Entwining their hands together, Zuko smiled. He loved holding the waterbender, she felt so right in his arms.
"Would you like something to eat or drink before we retire to bed?" Zuko asked as Katara thought for a moment. She would enjoy some tea; it might help her sleep tonight.
"Sure, some jasmine would sound nice." Katara said as Zuko smiled.
"Alright come on…" Zuko said as he released the girl and held her hand leading her to the doorway.
"You knew this day would come…" a voice said softly as the view of an aged man came into sight.
"I know you weren't to be trusted…Betraying your family." Azulon said darkly regretting Sozin's choice.
"I am not betraying my family; I'm saving them from monsters like you." Ursa said as she walked up to the weak man and bend down.
Pulling out a small bottle Ursa pinched the man's cheeks as he choked out. Ursa then poured the strange liquid down his throat as the scent of fire lilies filled the air. "Not many people know how the petals of the fire lily are toxic to humans…Unfortunately for you, my Majesty no one will detect it…" Ursa said softly as she leaned in and kissed the dying man's cheek. Standing up she then frowned, "May the spirits be kind to your damned soul." Ursa said as she left the throne room.
It was her last chance to save her family…Ursa thought as she recalled the night she killed Ozai's father, the ruler of the Fire Nation for 75 long years.
'Ozai…' Ursa thought as it she thought how the war corrupted her husband.
'Perhaps it was for the best…' Ursa thought as she fell to the side and rested on the small futon. Her black hair with gray streaks fanned out over the hay stuffed pillow as she closed her eyes. Tomorrow she would find out her fate…How she dreads the long night ahead.
I know it's a little short. But no worries more will come! Thanks for reading and please review and leave and nice comment for a quick update!
